How to Secure Patio Doors
Patio doors are one of the best features a home can have, opening up the living space and letting the garden in. But those wide glass panels, often tucked away at the back of the house, can be a tempting target if they are not properly secured. It is a real risk, too.
According to the ONS, where a burglar entered a home, they got in through a door around 70% of the time, against roughly 30% through a window. The good news is that protecting them is simple and usually affordable. Here is how to secure patio doors from burglars, step by step.
Why Are Patio Doors a Target for Burglars?
Patio doors are often fitted at the rear or side of a property, out of sight of the street and neighbours. That privacy is lovely for you, but it also gives an intruder cover to work without being seen.
A few weaknesses make older patio doors especially vulnerable. Some can be lifted clean off their track and removed. Others have worn or basic locks that are easy to force, single or untoughened glass that breaks readily, or frames that can be prised apart. Add valuables left on show through the glass, or a door left on the latch, and an opportunist break-in becomes even easier.
The good news is that every one of these weak points can be fixed, often cheaply.
What Are the Best Ways to Secure Your Patio Doors?
Securing patio doors comes down to strengthening the locks and the points an intruder would attack. The measures below all help on their own, and combining a few gives you the strongest protection.
Fit a Multi-Point Locking System
A multi-point lock secures the door at several points around the frame with a single turn of the key. That is far stronger than a single central lock, which leaves the top and bottom of the door vulnerable to a good shove. On sliding doors, this usually works alongside hook bolts that grip into the frame. A locksmith can upgrade the locks on many existing doors.
Add an Anti-Lift Device
One of the oldest tricks with sliding patio doors is lifting the panel up and off its track to remove it completely. Anti-lift blocks or pins, fitted into the top track, close the gap so the door cannot be raised far enough to come out. It is a cheap fix that removes one of the most common patio door weaknesses.
Install a Patio Door Security Bar or Foot Bolt
A security bar, sometimes called a Charlie bar, hinges across the door to block it from sliding open, and a simple length of dowel laid in the bottom track does much the same job for next to nothing. For extra strength, a foot bolt or floor-mounted bolt adds an anchored locking point at the base of the door, holding it firmly in place.
Fit a Dual-Handle Lock for French Patio Doors
If you have French-style patio doors, a dual-handle lock such as a Patlock clamps both handles together, stopping the doors from being forced apart at the centre, which is their weakest point. These fit in seconds without tools, work even if the existing cylinder is compromised, and are highly visible, so they put burglars off before they try.
Upgrade to Anti-Snap Cylinders
Lock snapping, where the euro cylinder is snapped in two to release the lock, is a quick and common way into doors fitted with euro cylinders. Swapping in an anti-snap, anti-pick cylinder that meets a recognised kitemark or star rating removes that weakness. It is one of the cheapest upgrades you can make for the protection it gives.
Reinforce the Glass
Glass is the largest part of a patio door, so it is worth getting right. Toughened glass resists impact and crumbles into blunt pieces if it does break, while laminated glass holds together when struck, so an intruder cannot punch a hole to climb through. If you are keeping your existing doors, a security film applied to the panes makes them much harder to break.
What Type of Patio Door Is the Most Secure?
If you are replacing your patio doors rather than retrofitting, it is worth choosing a door that is secure by design. The most secure patio doors combine a strong material, quality locks, and safety glass as standard.
Aluminium Sliding and Lift-and-Slide Doors
Aluminium sliding doors are among the most secure on the market. Their slim but strong frames resist forcing, and they come with multi-point locks and anti-lift designs built in. Lift-and-slide systems go a step further, sealing and locking tightly into the frame when you lower the handle, which makes them very hard to shift. You can compare a range of sliding doors to find a secure fit.
French and Bifold Patio Doors
French and bifold patio doors are also secure when they are well made, using multi-point locking and concealed shootbolts that fix the panels top and bottom. French doors do benefit from a dual-handle lock at the centre, where the two doors meet. If you like the classic look, French Doors are a stylish and secure alternative to a sliding design.
Security Standards to Look For
Independent accreditation is the clearest proof that a door is genuinely secure rather than just marketed that way. Look for PAS 24, the recognised standard for enhanced security performance, and Secured by Design, the official UK police backed initiative. Check that the glass is toughened or laminated as standard, and simply ask the supplier which standards a door has been tested to.
Secure Your Patio Doors with Emerald Doors
Securing patio doors does not need to be complicated. A strong multi-point lock, an anti-lift device, a security bar or bolt, reinforced glass, and an anti-snap cylinder together turn a soft target into a tough one. If you are buying new, aluminium sliding doors lead the way for built-in security.
At Emerald Doors, we supply quality doors that put security first, so you can enjoy your garden and your home with complete peace of mind. Browse our range of patio doors and French doors and choose a secure option that suits your property.
FAQs on Patio Door Security
Still have questions about patio door security? Here are clear answers to the things UK homeowners ask us most often.
Can old sliding patio doors be made secure without replacing them?
Yes. Adding anti-lift blocks, a security bar, an upgraded multi-point lock, and an anti-snap cylinder can make an older sliding door much more secure without the cost of replacement.
How much does it cost to secure patio doors in the UK?
It varies. Simple fixes like a security bar or anti-lift blocks cost very little, while a new multi-point lock or anti-snap cylinder fitted by a locksmith costs more but stays affordable.
Are uPVC patio doors as secure as aluminium ones?
They can be, if well made with quality locks. However, premium aluminium doors usually offer stronger frames and hardware, so they are often seen as the more secure option overall.
Does my home insurance require specific patio door locks?
Some policies specify approved locks, such as those meeting a recognised standard. It is worth checking your policy wording, as fitting the right locks can also support a claim.
Can I fit a smart lock to my patio doors?
In many cases, yes. Smart locks and sensors can be added to compatible patio doors, letting you lock, monitor, and control them remotely for extra reassurance.
How often should patio door locks be serviced?
Around once a year. Keep the tracks clean and the moving parts lightly lubricated, and have the locks and rollers checked so everything keeps working smoothly and securely.
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